Expression mechanism for mechanically-operated musical instruments.



G. H. DAVIS EXPRESSION MESHANISM FUR MEGEAEHGALLY OPERATED MUSICAL EfiSiRUME-NTS.

AHLIGA'I'IOR FILED JAE. 30. 1904.

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No. 824,343. PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

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G. How/e17 1 6/1114? No. 824,343. PATENTED JUNE 26, 1996* G. H. DAVIS. EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR MEGHANIGALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIUA'I'IGR nun 3.3%, 1904.

Qihhuemo PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

G. H. D AVIS. EXPRESSION MEGHANISM FOR MEGEAHIGALLY OPERATED MUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLIOATIO! nun umao, 1m.

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V al'l'oz "cu V nauseaobooooooconocuoaoooooaumoaoaoooooonuzfoooaoe on faiil'neamsmz D V UISITED STATES PATEXT OFFICE. "oso sos iiownnr'r DAVIS? os WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY; EXPRiISlGN MECHANISM ms MEl-ifdHQAiLf-OPERAHD MUSKJAL msraumaurs.

Speoifiosiion of Letters Patents 2 atsnted J une 26, 1 D06.

Appliootion filed Eons-aw 30. 1904. Serial No TQLSSF.

To all whom it may concern: H ,7 Be it known that I, GEORGE HOWLETT 'Di vis, a, citizen of the United States, resid ing at 'West Oran e, in the county of Essex and State of Xow dersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Expression Mechanism for Moohenirslly Opemisd Musical Instruments of which the following is a sgeoificstion:

' My resent invention rolstes to expression 7 and p losing mechanism for mechanicallydevices stony operated milsical instruments.

The prime "object of the invention is to provide manually-operable means for *iving variations of expression to the musics oom- Positinns being rendered and to enable the )ass, middle, or treble sound-producing devices of the piano to be indo endently controlled without causing a so den or abrupt change is the tone at any point in the musical scale or under any condition of operation.

Itis a further object of the invention to; provide moans ior bringin out prominently the melody of the composition and for subdoing the other accompanying parts, for waving a trill, accompaniment, or the melody, and for aooenting a, single note or's-L chord inanv art of the piano. V 7

It is a still lhrther object of the invention to proiride means for gradually and progrss:

varying the force of the blow with a group or series of sound pi odsoing oint of the sosgis's-ie struck, Whei'eby a; po 'ect blending of the innsieal tones ma; be efi'eoted.

r purpose of the invension is to Whic provide oontrolling-keys for the aforesaid mechanism slidably attached to the under side of the keyboard of the musical instrument such manner shot the} me be drawn out in front of the keyliosrd to he in easy reach for use and which may be pushed v back under the keyboard, where they will be out (as View when not in use The invention has in Film? other more or less important objects, all of'whieh will appear hereinafter. V i B'elly and generally stated, the inven tion oomprisesexpression or phrasing mechinstrun on is enibotiyin? anism for meohsniosllyo 'erated musical in t e example hereinshinwn sn actnetin' e en ent, such as ssh'oepneurn atio or other" evioe and 'means operstool "by said element for actuating a soundproducing device of a musical instrument,

said means being movable relatively to the actuating element, or vice versa, whereby to vary the foroe of the'blow imparted to the sound-prmluoing device.

In order to snsoie others to clearly understsndgnake snd use my ssid invention, 1 will now proceed to describe the some in defisil, reference being bad for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating my improved mechanism applied to one type of playing attachments. Fig 2 is a. pets eotive View of the controlling mechanism V or the key-strikers. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the varioss positions assumed by the means for shifting the key-strikers in obtaining the difisrent musical effect-s. Fi 7 is a top plan iew of a port of the me/o snism shown in Fig Fig. 8 is a front'elevstion of said mechanism. Fig. 9 is a rear end View of one of thef iotion-shoes, the signs being shown in pos tion over the druzn. Fig. 10 1s a side elevation of the operstin lovers shownm Fig: 2 with means for sin i tsneously operating sll of said levers. Fig his; a rtop glsn isisw. of the means illustresed-in F g. 10.

Fig. 12 is a side elevstion 'iilustz'ating'my improvements applied to playing mechanism of the pneumatic type.

I have shown in 1903. I wish it understood, however, that I do not limitmyself to the aplplication of such improvements to the portion or type of megahimprovement as eppliodv "idfiiot type of 'se pleyin musical instru amsm herein shown, as they may be applied 7 to various other types of self ilaying meshenism withost departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

Reierring'to Fig 1 of the drawings, the referenceossiers 1' indicates a shaft jom'naled at its opiposite ends in two hangers 2, pond-' ent from the "roar under side of the keyboard of the piano and constituting a, drum, said I drum beingio'tsted though the medium of a;

belt 3 or otherwise driven from any suitable motor. Supported between and secured to the hangersQ is e magnet-supporting rail oonsisti of on L-shaped bar 4, on which is fixed a p srality of electromagnets 5, one for ass-l1 k8 "of the piano. Fixed to the said magneta1 is a plurality of springs 6, one for esoh mognet, each of which supports an or mature I and a pendent rod 8, and to the lower ends of said rods are pivoted, as at 9, suit able act uat ing devices, such devices in the pr sent instance comprising'lriction-shoes It), the arrangement heiug such that when the magnets are dennignetimal and the armatures in theirraised positions thelower curved ends 1] of the shoes will be held suspended out of engagement with the drum 1, but in close proximit} thereto, 'lhe upper ends of the shoes 10 are bifurcated. as at 12, (see l ig. 9,,l'and the inner faces thereof are linedwith felt, canvas, or the like. Secured to and pendent from the magnet-rail -tby means of brackets 13 is a stop-bar 14, the front face of which is pre'erably faced with felt. Said bar operates to arrest the movement of the shoes It) in resuming their normal positions, and the felt facing serves to deaden and absorb the noise of the shoes striking said bar.

The ntnneral 15 indicates a pusher oi striker rod, there being one for each shoe and key, which are vertically movable in rear of the keyboard of the piano and arranged at their upper end to strike the under side of the pins 16 on the rear end of the piano-keys l7, and thus depress the latter to actuate the proper solind-producing device and soundmrresptmding notes. The lower end of each rod 15 rests on the upper face of a felt or canvas covered spring 18, which is seemed to the front edge of each shoe 1t) and which lies in the bifurcated portion thereof, one end of the spring being free, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The said lower ends of the rods 15 are bent forwardly, as shown, and are tipped with felt, rubber, or similar mate.- rial. as indicated at 19, to prevent noise,said tipped ends resting upon and movable hack and forth over the springs 18 to and from the fixed ends thereof. When any one of the i-iagnets 5 is energized, its armature 7 is attracted, thereby forcing the corresionding shoe into contact with the drum l, which latter is constantly rotated by its motor in the direction of the arrow 0. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The rotation of the drum in the direction indicated throws the shoe it] in the direction of the arrow f), Fig. 1, thereby thrusting upward the rod 1:) and depressing the forward end of the corresponding piano kev l7 and through the cooperating sountl-produeing device, such as the piano-banliner, (not shown,) sounding the corresponding note. When the magnet is demagnetized, t he spring (5 raises the armagravity back against the rail 14.

It will be obvious that the pianissimo or forte clients of the note sounded will depend upon the degree of force with which the t pizmo-l ey is depressed, and it will also be evil dent that the greater the distance between the ends 19 of the striker-rods and the pivotal points 9 of the shoes or the position of the 1 ends 19 of the rodsrelatively to the fixed point of the spring 18 the matter will be the depression of the keys, andconsequently the hauler the note sounded, and vice versa. In order, therefore, to shift the position of the striker-rods over the shoes to control and vary the pianissimo and forte effects, I provide the following mechanism: The numeral 20 indicates an angle bar, which. in the present instance I have shown as comprising two alined sections hinged together at their abut ting ends, as at 21, although I wish it understood here that instead of two sections I may employ any number of sections, or, in fact, may make the bar in a single piece. The horizontal portion 22 of the bar is provided with perforations 23, one for each striker-rod 1.3, through which the said rods loosely pass. Said angle-bar is secured at its opposite ends to blocks 24, carried by the upturned ends 25 of two separate and independentlymperable rods 26 and 27, that are shdably supported in aperturcd plates 28, attached to the magnetrail 4. The central or hinged portion 21 of the bar is similarly attached to a block 29, carried by the upturned end of a slidablymounted rod 30. Secured to the outer end of each of the arms 26, 27, and 30 are the lower ends of three levers 31, 32, and 33, each of which is secured at its upper end to a separate rockshaft, the lever 31 being secured to a rock-shaft 34, the lever 32 to a reekshal't 35, and the lever 33 to a rock-shaft 36, each of said shafts being journaled in suitable brackets 37, suitably attached to the frame of the piano directl below the keyboard and preferablywithin t .e piano-easing. A spring 37 surrounds each. of the arms 26, 27, and 30 between the plates 28 and the respective lewas 31, 32, and 33, said springs normally tending to draw the arms forward, and with them the anglcshariltl, so as to bring the ends 19 of the striker-rods nearest the pivotal point of the shoes, which is the normal position of said rods. Secured to the inner end of each rock-shaft is a forwardly-cxtcnding arm 38, each having one or more longit ndinal slots 39 therethrough, and arranged in contact with each arm 38 is another arm4t),eaeh having at its forward end a linger-key 4]. l lach arm 41) is provided with two or more headed screws or pins 42, which pass through 1 and overlie the slotted portions 39 of the arms 38, the arrangement being such that the 5 arms 40 may he slid back and forth upon the ture and hits the shoe outof engagement with 1 the drum l, whereupon the shoe will drop by j arms 38 in such manner that when in use the arms 40 may be drawn out in front of the pianoskcylmard or may be )ushed back under the same, where they will be out of view. By again referring to Figs. 2 and 11 of the drawings it will be seen that the linger-keys 41 are marked with the characters B, M, and '1, respectively, the key B controlling, through the roek-shaft 35, the lever 22, aml arm 27, one section of the angle-bar 20 and the classes ties-keys of the piano,

i P i 0f h ngle-bar, and 5 coi'itrolling, through the the piano. it will he understoo that if the right-hand. section of the angle- 1 tion from the hinged point only "that the left-hand right hand section.

the bar will be thrown in Fig. invention is as iollows:

the striker-rods will T ts 9 of the shoes,

he struck with a pianissiino effect.

further awa from the pivotal point shoes, there and depression of the piano-keys, ar consequently augmenting the soon 1 sstruck; so, also, with respect toths'firfi die; (lettered LL) only in this case hsth' sections er the angle-bar will he mevsd err' W validly at a central point. If both l s lettered B and T are depressedsiniultaiiecusl then the outer ends of the'tws sections 'e sogie-hsr will cs moved orrtwardly It'will be noted, thereiore, that'the two sections of the angle-liar 20 are not moved bodily back arid forth in a straight lice, but they are-moved at an. angle {som one end or the other one section at a For example, key lettered B is Then the left-handsection only of the angle-bar will be moved rearwardly from the hinged; oint 21, the right-hand sec ed. It will be ap areiit; then, that the bass-notes will be soon ed the,

the lowest bass iote up to the hi hest treble-cote the forte cfiect 7 It will be this is also true lettered T and it will spender 54,

of from aoentral point.

time, or from a central point. letit' be assumed that the depressed.

55; tion remaining loudest and that from will gradual y grow less and less. obvious thatthe converse of with respect to the key be obvious also that f the rnidd e key M is middle notes will he sounded depressed the the key lettered M controlling, through the rockshaft the lever 33 and the arm 30, the central or the key lettered T i V rock-shaft 3,4, the lever 31, azid'the 21.111126; the other section of the angle-bar and the treble or ugper part of therefore, ke lettered T is do ressed the ar will be thrown outward at an angle to the other see- 21, as illustrated V in Fig, 4; the same with respect to the key B, V V section of the anglebar will be thus thrown exit at an angle to the v 7 r If, on the other hand, both the keys lettered B and T be depressed both sections oi the angle-bar will be thrown outward from the hinged point, as illustrated in Fig.6, and if only the central key (lettered M) be depressed than the middle portion of outward, as indicated 3; The operation of this part ofthe Let it be assumed that the parts arein the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which position the tips 19 of be nearest the pivotal and hence the kegs will y tossing one or the other of the keys 4 1 lettered or T see and oaths other of the angle-bar 20 will he moved rearwardly, as seen in Fig; s ,7

tires moving the tips 19 of the striker-rods} spring as,

pull on said shaft to hold the'eranlr srm i in of the y increasing the throwof said d oiearly shown in d 6% the reek shalt by means of that by raising and lowering either or all of the he s 41 to a greater or less extent any doeeo, Vpianissimo or forts ei'iect desired may e obtained. 7 v V The mechanism just described is especially adapted for use by experts or those having a ent that by manipulatin the three keys 41 any skilled musician msyl riug out individual .musical effects to suit his pleasure. For those persons less skilled in the art of music I provide means for moving thosngle-lar bodily, and with it the position of all the strikers relatively to the shoes or other actsatin elements and provide also a single handie iaving an operative means for actuating the aoglohar, said handial hearing spending-to other characters upon the perforated riots-sheet, whereby a novice may give all such expressions to the musical composition being played as are indicated on the musical score; To accomplish this have provided the following means, which is illustrated inFigs. 10 and 11: To the under side of the piano-keyboard I attach a bracket 42; between the opposite sides 43' of which roieot the arms 40, carrying goorusled in the said sides 43 of t e bracket a rock-shaft {4, having at one end a crank- :srm dfi'and having at its other end a coiled so constructed as. to'exert torsional an approximately horizontal gi osition as Fig. 1G. Secured to said i? a curved ears-plate 48, which lies shove and he rear of the keys s1 the arrangement g such that by pulling downward upon stood thee the extent of movement of the an- 9 of the shoes or ths epression to the arms lay theplate Arranged arorrgde of the arms and pro?- fbflallllglillil dlfi indicatoemarlrs 5i, repreeiiects to he produced inpla viug, and which marks correspond to other marks as ordinarily placed upon perforated music- Piroied at 52 to the underside of the dial is a lever having a has'ul'le 53 and movable over the characters 51 (is the dial. The said lever is connected, by means of a'cliaiiror other flexible connection 55, to a hook 56 on the crank-arm 45 of the.

it will be obvious that by propteolmical musical knowledge, it being appar die carrying a pointer that is movable over a expression characters cnrre-- V sritsct with all three of the arms ii) and- "the crank-arm 45 said curved plate 48 will 7 connection with end, I V

he e 41, and

shift the anglebar .20 bodily to A 19 of the striker-rods to'srid 18, it being uiideri application for patcnt-is a dial-plate 50,

- give fairly satisfactory results erly manipulating the handle 53 the curved plate 48 will be caused to push down upon the arms 40 to a greater or less extent, de-

pending upon the extent of movement of the said handle, and impart a corresponding movement to the an le-bar 20 and striker rods 15, and thus give the desired musical effects. It will be understood from the forcgoing that when the mechanism last described is employed the angle-bar 20 will he moved bodily, Whereas with the mechanism first described-nan'1cly, the three keys 4]--- the twosections oi the angle-bar may be moved independently. Thus a greater variety of musical efi'ects maybe produced with the three keys and their cooperating mechanism than with the mechanism actuated by the handle 53; but as said handle cooperates with a dial bearing expression characters a novice niay readily follow the same and secure pleasing effects.

In Fig. 12 of the drawings l have shown my improvement as applied to a pneumal ii: actuating device, and in this figure the reference-numeral 57 indicates an ordinary powerpneumatic to the outer end of the movable member 58 of which is attached a spring on in all respects similar to the spring 18, attached to the friction-shoe 1f), heretofore dcscribed. Numeral 60 indicates a striker-rod, the striking tip or end 61 of which lies directly over the piano-key 62,, said rod being guided at its lower end through. an apertured rail 63. These striker-rods 60, of which there is one for each piano-key, pass through an angle-bar 64 in all respects similar to the angle-bar 20 of the mechanism hereinbelm'e described, and this bar is moved back and Forth by means of a rod or rods 65, each having a handle 66 at its outer end in order to bring the upper ends 67 of the striker-rods to and.

m the pivotal end of the movable member 58 0f the pneumatic or to and from the iixcd end of the spring 59, all as will be clearly understood when reference is had to the mechanism heretofore described.

By employing the blade-springs, as shown at 18 and 59, in connection with the actuating device a more yielding or elastic touch is given to the striker-rods, and consequently:

to the piano-keys. I do not wish to he understood, however, as limiting myself to the use of these springs, as the mechanism will without them. likewise I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the mechanism herein ployed being given only by way of example. What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. A iano having an expression-control ling device for varying the action of the ianohammers, said device enihodying a exible c bar arra ed transversely with respect to the piano-strings, and. an operating element havl l i l l i i i ing a connection with said bar For flexing the latter iniermediate its ends, for the purpose filflf iilfjil.

2. A piano having ex iiression-controlling means for varying the action of the SOUIlllproducing devices, said means embodying a flexible bur arranged transversely with r spect to the piiii' o-st'rings. and a manuallyoperahlc element having a connection with said bar at a point .intern'icdiate its ends, whereby the bar may be flexed at the will of the operator for the purpose specified.

A piano havin expressirim-controlling means for varying t is action of the soundproducing device, said means comprising ilexihly-eonnwted bar-sections arranged end to end and situated transversely with re spect to the piano strings, and a manuallyopcrable element havin a connection with the adjacent ends of the banser tions for flexing the latter at said specified.

4. A piano-playing attachment having an expression-contrrilling device for varying the action of the piano-hammers, saii device embodying a flexible bar arranged trunsversrly with. respect to the hammer-artunb ing devices, and a manually-controlled lever having an operative connection with the bar at a poi .t intermediateits ends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A piano-playinq attachment, having means for actuaiing the piano-hammers, and an ex )ression-cmitrolling device for varying to di l'crenl. extents the action of adjacent hammers, said device comprising a flexible bar arranged transversely with. respect to the hammer-armlating means, and an operating element having a connection with said bar for flexing the latter intermediate its ends.

6. A piano-playing attachment, having expression-controlling means for varying the action of the sound-produring devices, said means emluodying two connected bar-sections arranged end to end and extending transversely with respect to the said devil-es, a manually-controlled operating element having a connection with the said burseclions at the connected ends thereof, and two other manually -(Ulliiillltll operating elements, one having it connect ion with the free end of one of the lm r--scviio11s and the other having a connection with the free end of the other bar-section.

7. in inusic-playing mechanism, an actuends, for the purpos ating element, a blade-spring carried thereshown for actuating the rail 20, that here emby and having a lixcd and a free end, a

i striker-rod for actuating a sound-producing device, having its lower end resting upon and movable over the face of said spring, and means ior moving said lower end of the strikers'od to and from the fixed end of the Spl'lflg.

8. in ITHHMPPhtyJIlg mechanism, a pivoted actuating device, a bladwsprmg carried by ITO i S s;

c 5 groovednpper end said device and-haying a fixed and a free end, a striker-rod having its lower end supported upon and movable. over the face of said ring,%and means for shiftin the position of c said end of said rod re atively to the fixed end of the spring. 4 1 9. In music-playing mechanism, a rotary drum, a. pivoted frietionshoe, means controlledby a perforated music-sheet for movro' ing said shoe into and out'of contact with the drum, 3. blade-springhaving a fixed and a freeyend carried bysaid shoe; a striker rod resting; at i one end upon said spring, and meansfor moving the said endof the striker- }15 rod ba'cltand forth over the spring; for the purpose specified.

Y I 10. In music-playing mechanism, an actuatingIdevice having a grooved Way, a spring' j:blade, located in said groove, a striker rod 7 ago having one end resting upon said spring, t, d

- ,means for moving the rod back and for -ov er thespring for the purpose specified. ll. In mns1c-pleyi% mechanism," a* 1'0- tary' drum; a pivoted 'ction-shoe havin a;

. shoe into and out of contact with the drum, 9, striker-rod having one end movable back and forth in said groove and means for moving {said rod jas described for the purpose set" 12. In-music+playing mechanism, a ro-' rtar y dram, appivoted friction-shoe havin a.

Frooved Way in its upper end, a blade-spring ooated in said groove above the bottoni k 35 thereot, a striker-rodresting atone and upon" h A g gg i fi" end 0 the rod backand forth over the springsaid s ring, end'tmeans for moving the said for: the purpose specified. 7 V 153.:In a music-playing attachment, the

' 4o combinationwith'a rotary drum, of efrictiorv shoe radap ted to be brought into and out of contsetwith the drum, and means operated dry the shoefor acteetin e mend-producing device, the lower endfo said means resting 45.11pm: and movable reletively to the shoe to vary the force of the biow Imported to the sound reducing device. 7 7 V i 14 nal music playing attachment, the combination with a rotary drum, of afriction- 5 hoe adapted to be brought into and out of V- Qehtact with the drum, and a striker-rod se A tuated by the shoe for operating asoundpro- :ducing deviceot the musical instrnment,'the 1 loweren'd- 0t sa id striker-rod resting upon and ..55, Inovable-relat1ve1y to the shoe to vary the force of the blow upon the sound-producing -.'dev1ce;:.- 1

,;-':1,5. ,In- :a. music-pla' attachment, the

' combination with arotary rum, of afriction- 6 shoeadaptedtobebrought into and out of contact with the drum, a striker-rod actuated by ,theshoe for operating a sound-producing device of the musical instrnm'ent, the lower endof seidstrikersrod resting upon and mov- 6 5 able relatively towtheshoe to-vary'the forceof means for throwing t e two adjacent from thepivotal points of the shoes," Y

the blow upon the sound-prcducini'device and means for shifting the said on of the striker-rod.

16. In a music-playing attachment, the combination with a rotary driim, of a pivoted friction-shoe-ada' ted to be thrown into and out of contact w1th: the drum, and-a strikerr'od 'actuatedby theshoe, the loiver end of;

said rod supported by and shiftabletowsrd and from the pivotal point of the shoe for the purpose specified.

1?. In a music'- playing attachment-, the combination with a rotary drum, of a pit oted friction-shoe adapted tobe thrown into and out of contact with the drum, a striker-rod actuated by said shoe and having a movable contac'ttherewith at its lower end, and -means for movin the said end of the striker 'od toward and rom the pivotal point of theshce, 18. In a music -playing attachment, the combination with a rota drum, of apivoted friction-shoe adapted to e thrown into and. out of contact with thedrum, a striker-rod having one end disconnected from but mow":

able over the shoe toward and from the piv said 'strili'er rod.

19 In a. Innsi'c playingatt entfthe combination with a rotary o pivoted "friction-shoe arranged to be throWnmto-iind 2-95 out of contact with'th'e d mgthsceperesd of said slide being-channeled; asfiiE'eF-i'od her 'ing its lower end dispos'etl-witliiifihe in'the shoe and means for-movie the'sti'iker rod toward and from the pivots pal-sec or the 2i). In jamusical instrument, thejoornbina tion with the sonnd prodneing devices; of a sectional bar arranged transversely vkithie spect to said devices and connected to coo 'trol' the action thereof, and a manually-oper-' able loser heving operative connections with on s of the bar sections, Where- 7 by theposition 'of rest of said ends maybe simultaneously shifted tojcanse the horse devicesto produce toneeflects, raduated' tone volume the middle of t ekeyboerd toward the treble'endthe' 2L Ina music-playing'attachment; the eomoinsition with e rota d 'rfl'm, of a; serie tions to coeperate'witlr'ther*sonnd prodncirsg" and operable from the'shoes and each passing" throngh' an a erture in said snpport, and" means'forjbodr y movin' I the su pport to bring the said lower ends of t e striker-5rods to and 22; In an automatically-operated": ilmo. the combination with the sound-prod? devicegoi means for varyingthe a ction o f a, series of said devices in the middle mng' pfi the piano, the extent of the action steer-mg- 50 ity of actuating progressively on the different devices of the series both toward the treble and the bass, and a manually-operable controlling device for actuating said means.

.23. in music-playing mechanism, a plurality of actuating elements, a flexible bar, a series of striker-rods operable by said elements and each having a connection with said bar, and means for flexing the bar to 1 o shii t the positionof rest of some. of said striker rods relatively to others.

24. in mnsicsplayingmechanism, a plurality of actuating elements, a flexible bar, a series of striker-rods operable by said elei 5 ments and each having a connection with said bar, and means for flexing the bar at a point intermmliate.its ends whereby to shift the position of rest rods rclativtly to others.

2o 25, In music-playing mechanism, a plurality of actuating elements, a bar comprising lin ed sections arranged end to end, a series. distriker-rods operable by said elements, and each ha vin a connection with said bar, and means for moving one section .fol' the bar independent of the other.

26. .In music-- playing mechanism, a plnrality of actuatingelements, a barcompris mg iinged sections arranged end to end, a

series of SLIikGIF-IUdSUPGHLlJlU by saidcle-- ments, and each having a connection with said bar, and means for moving the adjacent: I hinged ends ofsaid bar-sections toward and from the actnatin elements. 27.. in music-p aying mechanism, a plurality of actuating elements, a barcomprising inged sections, a series of striker-rods operable by said elements and each passing t irough an aperturcin said bar, and means 0 for movin ently of the other. 28,, in music-playing mechanism, a plurality of actuating elements, a bar com prising hinged spctions, aseries of striker-rods operablefiiv elements and each passing thro itg ran aperture in said bar, and means or moving one section of the bar independentl ofand at an-angle to the other.

2!); Ju music-playing mechanism a pluralelements, a bar comprising hinged sections, a series of striker-rods operable by said elements and each passing throiigh an. aperture in said bar, and means forl.moving the inner hinged endsof said bar- 5 5 sections. to and from the actuating elements.

.'3().' .ln music-playing mechanism, the com- }gination witha rotary drum, of a series of rictionsshoes ada ted to be thrown into and out of contact with said drum, a bar compris- 6o ing inde icmlently novablc hinged sections arranger end to end, a series of striker-rods .oli iable by ,the shoes and each passing -t irougli an aperture in said bar, and means flier, niovinmfmie section of the bar inde endi he .other to change the position of ol'tsome of said strikcr-.

one section of. the bar independ the striker-rods passing through said section relativelyto the shoes.

31. In musicplaying mechanism, the combination with a rotary drum, of a series of Friction-slices ada )tcd to be thrown into and out of contact with the drum, a sectional bar, a series of striker-rods o erable by the shoes and each passing throng i an aperture in the said sectional bar, separate rock-shafts having independent connections with said sections of the bar, and means for rocking one of said shafts independent of the others to move a section of the bar and the strikerrods carried thereby relatively to the shoes.

32. In music-playing mechanism, the combination with a-rotary drum, of a series of pivoted friction-shoes adapted to be thrown into and out of contact with ,said drum, a bodily-movable bar, a series of striker-rods operable b and having their lower ends. in contact with the shoes and each passing through an aperture in said bar, and means for moving one end of the bar and the lower end of the striker-rods toward or from the pivoted points of the shoes.

33. In music-playing mechanism the combination with a rotary drum, of a series of pivoted friction-shoes adapted to be thrown into and. out of contact with the drum, a bodily-movable bar, a series of striker-rods operable by and having contact with the shoes and each passing through an aperture in said bar and means under the control of the o matter for moving either end of the bar to shift th osition of the lower ends of the striker-rods relatively to the ivotal point of the shoes.

34. E1 music-playing mechanism, the combination with a rotary drum of a series of pivoted friction-shoes adapted to be-thrown into and out of contact with the drum, a bodily-movable bar, a series of striker-rods operable by and having their lower ends in contact w1th the shoes and each passing through an aperture in said bar, rock-shafts having connections with said bar and means for rocking said shafts to move the bar and the lower ends of the striker-rods toward and from the pivotal oint of the shoes.

35. A musiea instrument having a keybpard, a plurality of actuatim elements, a series of strikers operated thereby, a sectional bar haviiw a connection with said strikers whereby the latter may be moved relatively to the actuating elements, and separate extensible arms, each having connection with the bar-sections, said arms being attached to the under side of the keyboard in such man nor that they may be drawn out beyond the forward ed e of the keyboard and may be pushed hach under the same.

36. In combination with a piano having a music-playing attachment, comprising a plurality of actuating elements, a series of strikers operated thereby and adapted to acthcir lower ends in "tuate the keys of the piano, a sec'tionslber' having a connection with said stiikersdnere by the later may be movedreletiveiito actuating elements,separate extensi le arms each hnving s connection with the bar, a key bearing a suitable character as described, on the. enter end of each arm, saidsrins being slidably mounted under the keyboard of the piano insuchmenner that the may be drawnout' to expose the keys or pushed back under the ke board. 7

37. n music-playing mechanism, the combination with a plurality of actuating elements, of a series of strikers operated thereby, a sectionsl'bar havin a connection with said strikers whereb file latter may be moved relatively to t e actuating elements, separate arms for operati the her-sections, a device for simultaneous y actuat' all of said arms, and means under the centre of the rformer for operating said device 38. In music-playi mechanism, the combination with o p uralli fg of actuat' elements, of a series of st ers operatedt erehy, a sectional bar havi a connection with said strikers whereby ills latter may be moved relatively to the actuating elements, separate arms having connections with the bar-sections, a. device or simultaneously mov ing all said. arms, and means under the con trol of the operator for actuating extents.

39. In music-glaying mechanism, the combination with t difi'erent extents the action of the individnel devices, said means comprising a flexible bsr arranged (parallel to the soundreducing de vices, en a. mennally-opereh e centre ;fieviee having an operative censs g i said bar and when operated flexing the has intermediate its ends.

40. A piano having a self-playing attachment, for actuating the. piano-hammers, and an ex ression-controlling device for varying to di erent extents the action of 'ed'scent hammers, said device comprising a; 1 exible bar arranged transversely with respect to the piano-strings and normali parallel with their plane, separate levers or actuating different portions of said fleznble bar, and

means under the control of theperfermer for engaging and depressing all of said levers simultaneously whereby to move the bar" bodily. r

41. A piano having a self-playing attachment, and an expression-controlling device,

for varying the action of the lane-hammers, said device embodying a exible bar ar ranged transversely with respect to the pianostrings, separate manually-controlled operating devices each having a connection with said flexible bar at a different point whereby the bar may be flexed, and a manually-opersaid device, to depress and elevate the arms to difierent N entlg actuating said rocker-arms.

e sound-producing devicen' of an expression-controlling means to vsrv to its ends, for the purpose nine element for actuating the said separate operating devices in unison whereby to move thefie'xihle bar bodil in parallel planes.

42. The comqinstlon with the sound-producing elements of a. musical instrument, of separate operating devices for varying the sction of some of said elements independent of others, a rocker-arm overhanging all of said operating devices, and means under the control of the erformer for rocking said arm to ously actuate'all of said onerati'rm' isnsthe combination witht'he sound-prodncing devices, of two elined bar-sections connected togcontrol the action of said iievices, two rocker-arms each having e connection with the outer end of a bar-sectiom-e third rocker erm having a connection with the adjacent ends of the bar-sections, and as separate extensible lever havin aconnection with each arm, said levers icing under the control of the performer.

44. The combination with the sound-prodncing devices of a musical instrument, of two elined liar-sections connected to control the actirn of said devices, two rocker-arms each having a connection with the outer ends of the haresections, a third rocker-arm having a connection with the adjacent ends of the bar-sections, and seperote means under thecontrol of the performer for independ- 4511 Expression-controlling mechanism of thej charecter described, compijifing a flexible bei separate manually-operable devices con- *nected respectively to opposite ends of said loar 'snd a third similandevice operatively connected to the bar at s. point intermediate s eeiiied. r 7 46. Expression-control 'ng' mechanism of the character described, comprising flexiblyconnected oer-sections arranged end to end, a separate manually-operable device having a connection with the free end of each bar section, andssimilsr device operatively con sections. 7 7 V a 4". Expressiomcontrolling mechanism of otally-snp cried bar-sections'arrsnged end to endsii hinged together, a mannsllyf-n arable device 0 eratively connected to tl ie ,sdigcent hin e ends of the bar-sections whereby the letter me be swung on their pivots, and a similar evice opersbly connected to the free end of cochlear-section.

'48. In combination with e iano, means cooperatingwiththesound-pro ucingdevices to produce different effects in the tone volume of individual ad'ecent devices throughout the whole range t ereof, or seperetel in the boss, middle or treble ranges, and t es depressible finger-keys operatively connected at difierent points to said means and reprenected to'the flexibly-united ends of the 3ers the character described, comprising two pivcause the otter to engage and simultane- 43. In automatic music-playqng mecliein;

Hi" Mus lniihiiv mm 2 arm r15 1 d prodm'ing lnvivvs, a plurality uf arms pivoted in the umlvr sidv M H10 rimm-kvyimzmi and having npvmrivu cunmtvtimm with mid bar and whm; ()IK'THIKd Waxing the bar 5mm- 

